Liverpool's final home fixture of the season was an absolute goal-fest as the Reds edged past Chelsea to record a 5-3 victory on a mesmerizing evening on Merseyside.
Naby Keita's excellent opener was followed by a stunning Trent Alexander-Arnold free kick and a thunderous strike from Georginio Wijnaldum as the Reds threatened to run riot, but Olivier Giroud pegged the hosts back in first-half stoppage time.
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Roberto Firmino finally -- and deservedly -- ended his Anfield goal drought in the 65th minute to restore the hosts' three-goal advantage, but Chelsea substitute Christian Pulisic dazzled as the Anfield fireworks started, making a remarkable run and assist for Tammy Abraham to tap in and make it 4-2. The American wasn't done either, this time scoring himself to set up an exciting last 15 minutes.
But with Klopp's men seemingly on the ropes, Andrew Robertson burst away to set up Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who made it 5-3 and sent the city into party mode.
Positives
Liverpool moved the ball calmly and with purpose early on, but it was three explosive finishes in 20 first-half minutes that will have delighted Jurgen Klopp on a memorable night that concluded with Jordan Henderson lifting the Premier League trophy. The hosts refused to lie down with Chelsea banging on the door, and their work ethic was epitomised by a hard-earned fifth goal on the counter-attack.
Negatives
The Reds were a little slow out of the blocks, and Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez could have been punished for being a little too hospitable to Mason Mount and Willian early on. Klopp's men also had no answer for sensational substitute Christian Pulisic, whom the Liverpool boss will have been very familiar with from his time at Borussia Dortmund.
Manager rating (out of 10)
7 -- Where do you even start. A combination of some ruthless finishing and frightening defending made it an exhilarating contest for fans if not managers. But his side came out on top and it was a fitting end to a sublime campaign for Klopp and his men
Player ratings (1-10; 10 = best, players introduced after 70 minutes get no rating)
GK Alisson, 6 -- Close to preserving his side's three-goal advantage with a super save to deny Willian late in the first half, but Olivier Giroud was on hand to stab the ball over the line. Beaten three times, but there wasn't much he could do about any of them.
DF Trent Alexander-Arnold, 8 -- Another attacking masterclass just about outweighed a late defensive lapse. There was a sense of inevitability as he composed himself before hammering a delightful, trademark free kick beyond a helpless Kepa Arrizabalaga to double his side's lead, while his second-half cross to assist Firmino was the stuff of a centre-forward's dreams.
DF Joe Gomez, 5 -- Like Van Dijk, he was a little too generous in the amount of space he offered the Chelsea attack and the grateful Blues sensed the opportunity to carve the Liverpool defence wide open. Caused all sorts of problems by the unstoppable Pulisic.
DF Virgil Van Dijk 5 -- He doesn't get much wrong, but Liverpool's stand-in skipper allowed Mason Mount to sneak between him and Joe Gomez with Giroud making a nuisance of himself. He allowed the Frenchman to wriggle free again to give Chelsea a lifeline just before half-time and frankly couldn't get near Pulisic.
DF Andrew Robertson, 7 -- Came across and tidied up well after Willian became the next man to exploit the gap between Gomes and Van Dijk. Crafted Liverpool's third when Mateo Kovacic misjudged the Scotsman's corner and he stormed away to square for Oxlade-Chamberlain to finally put the game to bed.
MF Naby Keita, 8 -- Arrizabalaga has come in for a lot of criticism this season, but there was little he could do to stop Keita's wonderful strike that spectacularly crashed in off the underside of the bar after he had stolen possession from Willian.
MF Fabinho 5 -- Could maybe have done more to close down Willian in the build-up to the Chelsea goal on the stroke of half-time, but it was a quiet display from the Brazilian midfielder.
MF Georginio Wijnaldum, 7 -- Should have tested Arrizabalaga from Alexander-Arnold's corner when he crept in at the back post, but needed no second invitation as he rifled home from close range with the Blues defence static.
FW Mohamed Salah, 7 -- Lively throughout but wasteful. Should have got on the score sheet when a sublime one-two with Firmino left Antonio Rudiger chasing his heels, only for the Egyptian to somehow drag his effort a good 8-yards wide. Later struck a weak effort straight at Arrizabalaga after a well-worked free kick.
FW Roberto Firmino, 7 -- The least selfish No. 9 you'll ever see. An excellent trait no doubt, but one that cost him the chance to pull the trigger when he looked to play the return pass to Sadio Mane. But on the night that Liverpool would lift long-awaited silverware, Fimino finally struck Anfield gold when he headed home Alexander Arnold's perfect cross.
FW Sadio Mane, 6 -- Had Reece James all over the place as he darted past the Chelsea man, only for the 20-year-old to recover superbly and steal back possession. Won his side a free kick when Kovacic's challenge led to him taking an enthusiastic tumble, shall we say, and the rest is history..
Substitutes
MF James Milner, 6 -- Added some vital experience when Liverpool needed it most. Another professional display.
MF Curtis Jones, 7 -- Thrown into the toughest of tests with Pulisic really getting going, but his excellent dummy created the space for Oxlade-Chamberlain to put the game to bed. A well-earned fifth appearance that resulted in a Premier League winners medal for the youngster.
FW Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, N/R -- Replaced Salah in the 78th minute and expertly steered Robertson's low cross into the roof of the net to cap a fine counter and secure all three points.